Ask Us! National University Library

Unfortunately, you cannot rely on the accuracy of automated citation software, including RefWorks. Whatever formatting errors exist in the original form (database, publisher, website, etc.) will also exist in your reference after being added to RefWorks.

The only 100% reliable resource for APA formatting and style is the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association 7th edition. Therefore, it is extremely important to check the integrity of the data that is added to your RefWorks account.

Common formatting errors to consider are the following:

• Check author names for correct format, capitalization, and unnecessary information such as email addresses, degrees, or name suffixes.
• Check capitalization throughout, paying close attention to proper nouns. RefWorks is unable to recognize words that should be capitalized.
• Check all punctuation.
• Check the document's retrieval URL if no DOI is provided. See our No DOI FAQ for details.

For additional assistance with RefWorks, see our RefWorks Guide.

*As part of our commitment to providing reliable, accessible, and forward-looking research tools, the NU Library will be transitioning away from RefWorks at the end of this year (12/31/2025). We’re excited to support our community in making the move to Zotero, a powerful, user-friendly citation manager that’s widely used across academic institutions and ensures continued access after graduation: https://resources.nu.edu/zotero We will be offering additional webinars in the coming weeks for those of you who would like to export your files from Refworks to Zotero. If you decide Zotero isn't for you, we'll provide information on other citation management options. We’re here to help you make the most of your research tools—now and in the future!